MoU between India and Morocco for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
No: --- Dated: Dec, 06 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Morocco for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The MoU was signed at New Delhi on 25th September 2018.
Salient Features:
- This MoU shall enable the following potential interest areas of cooperation such as space science, technology and applications including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology; and
- The MoU would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from DOS/ISRO and Royal Centre for Remote Sensing (CRTS) and the Royal Centre for Space Research and Studies (CRERS), which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing the MoU.
Background:
- .Morocco expressed interest in cooperation with India in the field of space in early 1990s, ISRO and Centre Royal de Tele detection Spatial (CRTS-Royal Centre for Remote Sensing) have exchanged draft and arrived at a mutually agreed version of the Memorandum of Understanding for space cooperation in 1998, However, this has not materialized due to the cancellation of the visit by VVIP from Morocco side. Subsequent attempts by MEA to sign this MoU did not fructify.
Indian Ambassador to Morocco has negotiated an updated version of this MoU at Government level and shared with ISRO, The draft inter-Governmental MoU was by ISRO and expressed its readiness to sign this MoU on September 25, 2018 during the visit of Moroccan Minister in charge of Defence Administration.
Courtesy – Press Information Bureau, Government of India